Plug inserting mechanism



. Dec. 8, 1964 R. B. WALLACE ETAL PLUG INSERTING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 22, 1960 F081??? J 549RT BY 40 IN VEN TORS RIC/{A490 a.

Dec. 8, 1964 Filed NOV. 22, 1960 R. B. WALLACE ETAL 3,159,855

PLUG INSERTING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. B. WALLACE ETAL 3,159,855

PLUG INSERTING MECHANISM Dec. 8, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 22, 1960 I N VEN TORS 4/0/4012 8. M41440! E 190854? L7.- 885? Dec. 8, 1964 R. B. WALLACE ETAL 5 PLUG INSERTING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 22, 1960 a m R 5 M m WW5 w 84%,? 7/

United States Patent M 3,159,855 PLUG HRSERTING MECHANISM Richard B. Wallace, Bloomfield Hills, and Robert J. Ebhert, Rochester, Mich, assignors to The Oakland Corporation, Birmingham, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 71,913 31 Claims. (Cl. Iii-2} The invention relates to plug inserting mechanism and refers more specifically to apparatus for receiving an article having a recess therein, locating the recess and filling the recess with a plug which apparatus includes means for sensing and sorting articles having no recesses therein.

The advantage of providing protruding plastic plugs in recesses in threaded bolts and the like to produce locking and sealing of the installed bolts is known. Where the bolt is hardened, the plug must be provided in a recess which is formed in the bolt prior to hardening, and a prime problem is to locate the previously formed recess so as to permit automatic insertion of the plug.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide improved mechanism for locating a recess in a threaded bolt or similar member and for cutting and placing a plastic plug in the recess.

Another object is to provide mechanism comprising means for receiving members having a recess therein, means for locating the recess in the members and means for cutting a plug and inserting it within the recess.

. Another object is to provide mechanism including means for automatically loading a member having a recess therein into transfer means therefor, transfer means operable to index the member between a work receiving station, a work station and a discharge station, means for locating the recess in the member, means for indexing a plastic strip from which a plug is cut, means for cutting a plastic plug from the strip, means for inserting the plug in the recess and means for discharging the member.

Another object is to provide mechanism as set forth above and further including means for detecting and sorting members having no recess therein.

Another object is to provide mechanism as set forth above wherein the means for transferring the articles between the work receiving station, work station and discharge station comprises a pair of cam actuated jaws.

Another object is to provide mechanism as set forth above wherein the means for locating the recess in the member comprises a rotatable friction wheel adapted to engage the member in the work position to rotate the member and a reciprocable spring biased pin.

Another object is to provide mechanism as set forth above wherein the means for cutting and inserting the plastic plug comprise a reciprocably mounted dinking die and said reciprocal pin respectively.

Another object is to provide mechanism as set forth above wherein the means for indexing the plastic strip from which the plugs are cut comprises a cam actuated clutch and drive means operable on actuation of the clutch.

Another object is to provide mechanism as set forth above wherein the member loading means comprises cam actuated motor means, a plunger reciprocated by said motor means and a chute operable to position a member opposite the member receiving station on reciprocation of said plunger.

Patented Dec. 8, 1964 Another object is to provide mechanism as set forth above wherein the jaws, pin, (linking die, strip indexing means, member loading means and member discharge means are synchronized through commonly driven cams.

Another object is to provide plug inserting mechanism which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and efficient in use.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partly broken away elevational view of the plug inserting mechanism of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view in reduced scale of the mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a threaded bolt having a plastic plug inserted in a recess therein which is a finished product of the mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 1 showing the jaws in two relative positions thereof and illustrating the member loading means of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a diagram showing the sequence of operation of the various elements of the mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 1 during a complete cycle thereof.

FIGURE 6 is an elevation view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1 taken in the direction of arrow 6 in FIGURE 1 and shown partly in section.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged elevation view of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 1 partly in section.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 2 showing the details of the strip indexing means.

FIGURE 9 is an elevation view of the discharge chute of the mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 1.

With particular reference tothe figures one embodiment of the present invention will now be disclosed.

The plug inserting mechanism shown best in FIG- URES 1 and 2 comprises means it operable to receive a threaded bolt 12 shown in FIGURE 3 having a recess 14 therein at a work receiving station 16 and to transfer the bolt 12 to a work station 18 and unloading station 26 shown in FIGURE 4. Means 22 for rotating the bolt 12 at the work station 18 are also provided. The plug inserting mechanism further includes means 24 adjacent the work station 18, best shown in FIGURE 1, for locating the recess 14 in the bolt 12, and for inserting the plug of plastic material within the recess 14 in the bolt 12 and means 25 for cutting the plastic plug. Strip feeding means 26, shown best in FIGURE 8, for indexing a plastic strip from which the plastic plugs 28 are cut and means 30 for loading bolts 12 into the transfer means Ill are also included in the plug inserting mechanism of the invention.

Limit switches 32 and 34 are provided in conjunction with the solenoid operated gate 36 in the unloading means 38 to detect bolts 12 having no recess 14 therein and to sort the bolts having no recess therein from the bolts having a plastic plug 28 inserted in the recess 14.

The means 10 for transferring the bolts 12 between the stations 16, 18 and .20 are controlled by cams 40 and 42, shown best in FIGURES 2 and 6. The means 24 and 25 for locating the recess in the bolt 12 and for a inserting the plug 28 in the recess 14 and for cutting the plastic plug 28 respectively, the means 26 for indexing the plastic strip 44 and the limit switch 34 are synchronized with the movement of the transfer means 10 by means of the earns 46 and 48, cam 50 and cam 52, shown best in FIGURE 6, respectively, which are rotated about a common axis with the earns 40 and 42.

More specifically the loading means 30 comprises a chute 54 formed of a pair of rails 56 and 58 from which the bolts 12 are suspended by means of the heads 60. The chute 54 feeds into the guide 62 in which the reciprocal plunger 64 is positioned. Plunger 64 is secured on a reciprocal piston rod 66 movable by means of the hydraulic motor 68. On reciprocation of the plunger 64 it will be apparent that the bolts 12 which are gravity fed toward the guide 62 from the chute 54 will individually be moved toward the transfer means 10 positioned at the loading station 16. The timing of the reciprocation of the plunger 64 may be accomplished by the strip feed cam 50 through operation of a conveniently located hydraulic or electric switch (not shown) connected to actuate the motor 68 as will be understood by those in the art.

The transfer means 10, shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 4 and 6 includes a pair of jaws 70 and 72 rotatably mounted on shaft 74 by means of bearings 76, 78 and 80. The shaft 74 is journaled for rotation in the upper frame member 82 and the lower frame member 84, as shown best in FIGURE 6, and is held in position relative thereto by means of the washers 86 and 88 sleeved over the reduced diameter end thereof in conjunction with the bolt 92 and locking means 94 as will be understood. The jaw 70 suports a clamping member 96 on one end thereof, as shown best in FIGURES 1 and 4. Clamping member 96 is held in position on the end 98 of the jaw 70 by means of bolts 100. The portion 102 of the jaw 70 sleeved over the shaft 74 is bifurcated to provide greater bearing surface for the jaw 70. The other end 104 of the jaw 70 has a cam follower roller 106 supported thereon by means of bolt 108, as best shown in FIGURE 6.

The jaw 72 also includes a clamping member 110 secured to the end 112 thereof by means of the bolts 114. The portion 116 thereof which is sleeved over the shaft 74 is located between the bifurcated portion 102 of the jaw 70, as shown best in FIGURES l and 6. The other end 118 of the jaw 72 has the cam follower roller 120 supported thereon by means of the bolt 122.

The jaws are spring loaded so that the cam follower rollers 106 and 120 supported thereby follow the contours of the cams 40 and 42, as best shown in FIGURE 2. With the cams 40 and 42 and the jaws 70 and 72 positioned as shown in the drawings, it will of course be possible for the jaw 72 to follow the movement of the jaw 70 during certain portions of rotation of the cams 40 and 42 wherein the cam 42 is sufiiciently cut away so that the spring biasing means 124 acting on the end 118 of the jaw 72 brings the clamping member 110 on the end 112 thereof into contact with a bolt 12 positioned between the clamping members 96 and 110. Thus it can be seen that the movement of the jaws 70 and 72 and the clamping members 96 and 110 carried thereby may be controlled by the earns 40 and 42 to transfer bolts 12 positioned between the clamping members between the loading station 16, the work station 18 and the discharge station 20 in a manner to be later considered.

The means 22 for rotating the bolt 12 at the work station 18 is shown best in FIGURES 1 and 2. The means 22 comprises the friction wheel 126 supported by bearings 128 for rotation on shaft 130. The friction wheel 126 includes the upwardly extending flange 132 having a clutch face 134 on the end thereof engageable with a clutch disc 136 on the end of a drive sleeve 138, as shown in FIGURE 1. The drive sleeve 138 is supported in bearings 140 held in bracket 142 for rotation by means of pulley 144 which is secured to the sleeve 138. Sleeve 138 is connected to rotate the shaft through the pin 146 and slot 148 connection as shown therebetween. Spring 150 in connection with the bolt 152 provides means for urging the clutch surface 134 with varying force toward the clutch disc 136 whereby the friction wheel 126 is driven through the sleeve 1.38 when the pulley 144 is driven. The pulley 144 is driven by the flexible belt 156 and the sprocket 154 which is secured to a shaft concentric with the cams 40 and 42.

The bracket 142 is adjustably mounted on a plate 155 for movement toward and away from a bolt 12 held in jaws 96 and 110 by means of an elongated slot 158 and bolt 160 shown best in FIGURE 1. The plate 155 is rigidly secured to the end of the shaft 74 by means of the bolt 162.

Thus in operation it will be seen that when the jaws 70 and 72 transfer a bolt 12 into the work position 18 and loosely hold the bolt in such position that the rotating friction wheel 126 will cause the bolt to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereof. The rate of rotation of the bolt 12 is fast with respect to the rate of rotation of the earns 46 and 42. Thus since the vertical position of the bolts 12 are fixed in the work position by adjustment of the threaded shaft 164 extending through the frame member 82, as the bolts 12 are rotated the recess 14 therein may be located by the spring loaded pin 166. As the pin 166 enters the recess 14 the friction wheel 126 engaged with the bolt 12 is caused to stop rotating and slippage between the clutch surface 134 and clutch disc 136 occurs.

It will be understood that since the bolts 12 of the present example are of the same height and the recesses 14 are positioned exactly from the lower end thereof, as shown in FIGURE 1, that no vertical travel of the bolt 12 is required during rotation thereof to enable the pin 166 to locate the recess 14 therein. It would however obviously be a rather simple matter to provide vertical travel of the bolt 12 during rotation thereof by providing matching threads on the friction wheel 126 or inclining the friction wheel 126 with respect to the bolt 12. Such vertical travel would enable the pin 166 to locate a recess in bolt 12 which was not exactly positioned longitudinally thereof.

The means 24 for locating the recess 14 and inserting the plub 28 in the recess is best shown in FIGURES 1 and 7. As shown in FIGURE 1 the means for locating the recess 14 and inserting a plug 28 therein comprises the pin 166, the guides 168 and 170 therefor, adjusting means 172 and actuating means 174.

The pin 166 has a reduced diameter portion 176 adapted to slidably pass through the dinking die 186 and the opening 178 in the guide 170 through which it extends to engage a recess 14 in the bolt 12 or to push a plug cut from the plastic strip 44 into the recess 14, as will be considered later. The guide 170 is rigidly held by a bearing 180 in a frame 182, shown best in FIG- URE 2.

The pin 166 further includes a central portion which extends through the passage 184 in the end of the guide 168 and slidingly fits within the dinking die 186. The pin 166 is biased toward the bolt 12 by means of the spring 188 acting between the bearing 190 for the guide 168 and the collar 192 secured to the pin 166.

The guide 168, as shown in FIGURE 1, is slidable within the bearing 190 secured in the frame 182. Guide 168 includes an enlarged end 194 having an opening 196 therein which, in conjunction with the adjustable stops 172 and 198 on the pin 166, provides a lost motion connection between guide 168 and pin 166. The adjustable stops 172 and 198 threaded on the enlarged end of the pin 166 may be positioned axially therealong to determine the amount of lost motion on operation of the actuating means 174.

The actuating means 174 includes the lever 200 pivota ly secured centrally by pin 206 to bracket 202 rigidly tinue down the offset portion 320 of the chute 312 when the door 36 is closed. The specific circuitry by which this cooperation may be accomplished while indicated above may be modified and will be readily apparent to those in the art. It will not therefore be considered in detail at this time.

The operation of the plug inserting mechanism of the invention will be best understood when considered with reference to the diagram of FIGURE 5. FIGURE indicates diagrammatically the functioning of the jaw '70, the jaw 72, the inserting and locating pin 1%, the dinking die 18d and the strip feed apparatus 26 during a complete rotation of the cams til, 42, 46, 48 and 5d. The cams it), 42, d6, 48, 5t) and 52 are concentrically mounted and are rotated together by means of the motor 338 connected to rotate the shaft 340 through the gear box 242, the pulleys 344 and 346 and the belt 348.

Thus, as shown in FIGURE 5, considering the outer jaw 70 to be at rest in the loading position at zero degrees as the cam 40 rotates the outer jaw 7t) will be caused to dwell in the loading position during rotation of the cam 40 through seventy-five degrees. The outer jaw '79 then will be caused to gradually move to the worl; position as the cam 49 rotates through an additional eighty degrees and dwells at the work position 18 for another one hundred twenty degrees rotation of the cam 40. The jaw 7t) is then returned to the loading positionld while the cam lit finishes a complete revolution by rotating through an additional eighty degrees.

At the same time the inner jaw 72 starting from a zero degree initial position wherein the clamping member 110 thereof is located adjacent the clamping member 96 on the jaw 70,- as shown in FIGURE 4, to provide clearance therehetween so that a bolt 12 may be inserted between the clamping members on reciprocation of the plunger 64 dwells for one hundred and five degrees of rotation of the cam 42. The inner jaw 72 is then transferred through sixty degrees to the work position 18, at which time the jaws 7t; and 72 are slightly separated to permit rotation of a bolt 12 held therebetween by the friction wheel 12-6. The inner jaw 72 dwells in the work position for fifty degrees of rotation of the cam 42, after which the jaws 7t) and '72 are brought together to firmly clamp the bolt in a predetermined position during an additional sixty-five degrees of rotation of the cam 42. The jaw 70 then is returned toward the unloading station 20 for thirty degrees of rotation of the cam 42.

At the unloading station an 'air blast from the air fitting 316' is applied to the bolt 12 so that the bolt 12 is discharged into the chute 312. The air blast which is also controlled by the cam 48 is applied for twenty degrees of the rotation of the cam 42, after which the jaw 72 returns to its initial position, shown in FIGURE 4, during another thirty degrees of rotation of the cam 4-2.

Thus it will be seen that during the rotation of the cams 4t} and 42that the jaws 7t) and 72 are first initially slightly open to permit insertion of a bolt 12 'therebetween, are next indexed to the work station 18, where the jaws are again slightly opened to permit rotation of the bolt 12. The jaws are then returned to the urn loading station 29 where the jaws are again opened and an air blast is applied to the bolt to discharge the bolt into the chute 312, after which the jaws are indexed to the loading position again to repeat the cycle.

During the above indicated movement of the jaws 7t) and 7'2 the pin 166 is for the first one hundred fiftyfive degrees of rotation of the cam 46'caused to be retracted to the left of the plastic strip 44, as shown in FIGURE 1. The pin 166 is then released and due to the spring 18% is caused to be inserted through the opening 178 in the guide 17th into contact with the bolt 12 for ten degrees of rotation of the cam 46. For the next fifty-five degrees of rotation of the cam 46 the bolt is turned and the spring loaded pin 166 will hunt for the recess 14% in the bolt 12. If the pin 156 finds the recess 14 and enters it the bolt 12 is fixed in a predetermined position by the pin 166 until the jaws 7t and 72 clamp thereon to lock the bolt in the desired position.

Regardless of whether the pin 166 finds the recess 14 in the bolt 12 or not the pin 166 is caused to withdraw through the passage 178 to its original position over the next fifteen degrees of rotation of the cam 46. At the same time that the pin 156 withdraws through the opening 178 the dinking die 186 which has been stationary in a position immediately adjacent the surface 350 of the guide 170, as shown in FIGURE 7, is caused to withdraw from the opening in the plastic strip 44 previously cut therein over fifteen degrees of rotation of the cam 48. During the next fifteen degrees of rotation of: the earns the cam 55 causes movement of the rod 286 to energize the strip feed apparatus 26 whereby the plastic strip94 is indexed through the opening 236. On further indexing of the cams through another fifteen degrees the dinking die 1855 is caused to move to the right, as shown in FIGURE 1, by cam 48 to cut a plastic plug 28 from the plastic strip 44.

After ten degrees of rotation of the cam 48 during which the plug 2% is cut from the strip 44, the cam 46 causes the pin 166 to start to insert the plastic plug 28 into the recess 14. The pin 1% operates to push the plug 2% through the passage 1'78 and into the recess 14 over fifteen degrees of rotation of the cam 45. The pin tee is then returned to its initial position through ten degrees of rotation of the cam 46. No further actuation of the pin 1.66, strip feed means 26 or dinking die 1% is accomplished on completion of a full rotation of the cams 4s, 48 and 5t as indicated in FEGURE 5.

As previously indicated, if during a cycle of operation as described above the pin 166 does not find a recess 14 in the bolt 32, the limit switch 32 will not be closed so that the clutch 254 will not be energized and the strip feed mechanism 26 will not feed the plastic strip 44 through the passage 236 as explained above. Thus as the dinlzing die moves to the right in FIGURE 1 no plug is cut from the plastic strip 44 whereby the pin the cannot attempt to seat a plug 295 in a bolt 12 without a recess 14 therein. Additionally the door 35 in the chute 312 is opened at'this time and remains open for the complete cycle so that the bolt having no recess 14- therein will be separated from bolts'having a plastic plug inserted in a recess 14 after a complete rotation of the cams as indicated above.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved plug inserting mechanism in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enableany person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims;

What we claim as our invention is: V

1. Plug inserting mechanism comprising means for loeating an existing radially extending recess in an angularly randomly positioned cylindrical memoen'means for cutting a plug for insertion in the recess in the cylindn'cal member, and means operably associated with both the locating means and cutting means for inserting a plug cut by the cutting means into the recess located by the locating means. 7

2. Plug inserting mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for locating a recess in a cylindrical member includes, means for rotating the cylindrical member while the recess is searched for, and means for searching for the recess during rotation thereof and stopping the rotation of the cylindrical member after the recess is located.

3. Plug inserting mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for inserting a plug into the recess fixed to the frame member 204 by pin 206, as shown in FIGURE 1. The lever 280 is provided at the end 208 thereof with an elongated slot 210 which engages the pin 212 passing through the elongated slot 210 and secured to the guide 168. The guide 168 reciprocates within the bearing 191 on pivotal movement of the lever 200 about pin 286. The lever 290 is pivotally secured at the other end 216 tothe rod 218, which rod is pivotally secured to the bell crank lever 22%), shown best in FIGURES 2 and 6. The bell crank lever 228 is supported on shaft 222 for pivotal movement with respect thereto and has a cam follower 224 on the end 226 thereof engaged with the rotatable cam 46.

Thus in operation on rotation of the cam 46 the bell crank lever 228 will be caused to move in accordance with the configuration of the cam to reciprocate the rod 218, thereby pivoting the lever 208 about the pin 206 to in turn reciprocate the guide 168 and the pin 166 secured thereto after a predetermined amount of lost motion whereby the portion 176 of the pin 166 is caused to first pass through the opening 178 in the guide 178 to resiliently engage the bolt 12 during rotation thereof and locate the recess 14. The pin 166 is then retracted and subsequently inserted again through the opening 178 in the guide 178 to force a plug 23 into the recess 14 previously located and again retracted to complete the cycle of operation of the pin 166.

The means 25 for cutting the plastic plugs 28 from the plastic strip 44 passed through passage 236 between guide 178 and bearing 180 comprises the dinking die 186 reciprocally mounted in the bearing 188, as shown in FIG- URE 1. The dinking die 186 is adjustably positioned within the bearing 180 by means of the collar 228 threaded on the end of the dinking die, as shown best in FIGURE 1. The collar 228 is engaged by the bifurcated end 230 of the lever 232 which is pivotally secured to the frame 182 by pivot pin 234. I

The actuating means for the (linking die 186 includes the rod 238 pivoted to the end 248 of the lever 232. The rod 238 is pivoted at the other end to the bell crank lever 240 which is centrally pivoted to the shaft 222, shown best in FIGURES 1 and 2. The bell crank 240 also includes a cam follower 242 on the end 244 thereof and is spring biased to engage the cam 48.

Thus in operation, as the cam 48 is rotated the bell crank 240 is pivoted about the shaft 222 to reciprocate the rod 238 whereby the dinking die 186 is caused by the lever 232 to cut pings from the plastic strip 44 which is periodically indexed by the opening 178 in the guide 170 as will later .be considered.

The strip feeding means 26, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 8 comprises the feed wheels 246 and 248 secured to shafts 250 and 252 respectively for rotation therewith. The shaft 258 is journaled for rotation in frame member 254 while the shaft 252 is journaled for rotation in the member 256 pivotally secured to the arm 258 of frame member 254 by means of pivot pin 260 as shown in FIG- URE 1. The member 256 is provided with a passage 262 through the end 264 thereof through which the threaded bolt 266 passes. The bolt 266 also passes through the passage 268 in the frame member 254. The spring 270 acts in conjunction with the adjusting nut 272 on the bolt 266 to determine the pressure which the knurled wheel 248 exerts on the plastic strip 244 in the V-shaped circumference of the wheel 246 as will be understood by those in the art.

The gears 274 and 276 are fixed to the ends of the shafts 252 and 250 opposite the wheels 246 and 248 respectively, as shown in FIGURE 8, and are operable to rotate the wheels 246 and 248 in opposite directions on being driven by gear 278 in mesh with gear 276 to provide feeding of the plastic strip 44.

The gear 278 is supported on and rotated by the shaft 280 by means of motor 282 when clutch 284 is engaged. The clutch 284 is electric and is actuated on rotation 6 thereof by means of the rod 286 secured thereto by pivot pin 288. The rod 286 is pivoted at the end 290 thereof to the lever 292 supported on bracket 294 and is reciprocal on pivotal movement of the lever 292 about pin 296. The lever 292 is pivoted about pin 296 by means of the rod 298 pivotally secured to the end 300 of the lever 292 by means of the pin 302. Rod 298 is reciprocated on movement of the lever 304 to which it is pivoted at end 306. The lever 304 is pivoted at end 308 to shaft 310, as shown in FIGURE 2. The other end of the lever 304 includes a cam follower which is biased to bear against the cam 50.

Thus on rotation of the cam 50 the lever 304 is caused to pivot about the shaft 310 to reciprocate the rod 298 causing the lever 292 to pivot about pin 296 whereby the rod 286 is axially reciprocated to actuate the electric clutch to cause the gear 278 to be driven by the motor 272. On rotation of the gear 278, as will be understood by those in the art, the plastic strip 44 extending between the drive wheels 248 and 246, which may be nylon for example, will be indexed a distance depending on the length of time the clutch 284 is energized.

The unloading means 38 comprises a chute 312, as shown best in FIGURE 9, which is secured to the frame members 82 and 84 by convenient means such as brackets 314. The chute 312 is positioned at the discharge station 28 as shown in FIGURE 4. Two sides of the chute 312 are removed above the frame member 82, as indicated in FIGURES 2 and 9, so that as the jaws 70 and 72 transfer bolts into the discharge station 20, they may be discharged into the chute 312 by means of an air blast directed thereagainst through the fitting 316 secured to the plate 155, as shown best in FIGURE 2, which fitting is connected to the pressurized air line 318.

The chute 312 is provided with an offset section 320 at the bottom thereof in conjunction with which the pivoted door 36 is provided to sort the bolts discharged into the chute 312 which do not have recesses therein and those which have the recesses therein.

The means for sorting the bolts discharged into the chute 312 includes the limit switch 32 which is supported on bracket 322 secured to frame 182 by means of bolts 324. The bell crank 326 which is biased by spring 328 into engagement with limit switch 32, is adjusted in position by the screw 330 and is pivoted to actuate the limit switch 32 on advancement of the pin 166 into the recess 14 in the bolt 12 by engagement with the collar 192. Thus the limit switch 32 is actuated only when the pin 166 locates a recess 14 in the bolt 12. A second limit switch 34, shown in FIGURE 6 is attached to the frame 82 and is actuated by means of the cam 52. The limit switches 32 and 34 are connected in parallel and are in series with the clutch 284 of the strip feeding means 26.

The limit switch 32 is normally open while the limit switch 34 is normally closed. Thus during the period in which the pin 166 rests in the recess 14 the circuit to the clutch 284 may be completed through the switch 32. The switch 34 is caused to open by the cam 52 just before the pin 166 is caused to be removed from the recess 14. Thus, if the pin 166 does not locate the recess 14, both the limit switch 32 and the limit switch 34 will be opened immediately prior to the withdrawal of the pin 166 through the guide 170. The occurrence of both switches being open will deenergize the clutch 284 so that the plastic strip 44 will not be indexed so that a plastic plug will not be cut therefrom and the pin 166 will not attempt to force a plastic plug into a non-existent recess on the second movement to the right of the pin 166 as shown in FIGURE 1. The occurrence of both limit switches being open simultaneously will further deactuate the spring loaded solenoid 332 connected to the chute 312 by the bracket 334 to pivot the door 36 about pivot pin 336 into an open position so that the bolt in which the recess was not located will be segregated from those bolts which have plastic plugs therein and which con- 9 and the means for searching for the recess are a single means.

4. Plug inserting mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for rotating the cylindrical member includes means for loosely supporting the cylindrical member during rotation thereof, a rotatable friction wheel engageable with thecylindrical member to produce rotation of the cylindrical member, drive means connected to the friction wheel operable to produce rotation thereof, and clutch means located between the friction wheel and drive means for preventing rotation of the friction wheel after the recess has been located.

5. Plug inserting mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for searching for the recess and the means for inserting a plug into the recess includes a guided pin, resilient means for biasing the guided pintoward the cylindrical member, and means for moving the guided pin toward and away from the cylindrical memher.

6. Plug inserting mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for moving the guided pin includes a cam surface for timing the movement of the pin, a lever, means for moving the lever in accordance with the cam surface, and a lost motion connection between the pin and lever.

7. Plug inserting mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for cutting a plug includes, a guided dinking die having a collar secured thereto, a lever having a bifurcated end, the bifurcated end of said lever engaging said collar to cause axial movement of the dinking die on movement of said lever, a cam surface for timing the movement of the dinking die, and means for moving the lever in accordance with the cam surface.

8. Plug inserting mechanism comprising means for cating an existing radially extending recess in an angularly randomly positioned cylindrical member, means for cutting a plug for insertion in the recess in the cylindrical member, means for indexing a strip of plug material past the plug cutting means, and means operably associated with both the locating means and cutting means for inserting a plug cut by the cutting means from the strip of plug material into the recess located by the locating means.

9. Plug inserting mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for indexing a strip of plug material past the plug cutting means includes a pair of drive wheels yieldably engaging the plug material therebetween in driving relation, drive means for the drive wheels, clutch means for connecting the drive means to the drive wheels, and means for actuating said clutch after the recess is located and before the cutting by the cutting means is initiated.

10. Plug inserting mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for indexing a strip of plug material past the plug cutting means includes a pair of drive wheels yieldably engaging the plug material therebetween in driving relation, drive means for the drive wheels, clutch means for connecting the drive means to the drive wheels,

and means for actuating said clutch only after the recess is located and before the cutting by the cutting means is initiated.

l1. Plug inserting mechanism comprising means for gripping an angularly randomly positioned cylindrical member and moving the cylindrical member between a receiving station, a work station and an unloading station, means adjacent the work station for locating an existing radially extending recess in the randomly positioned cylindrical member, means also adjacent the work station for cutting a plug for insertion in the recess in the cylindrical member, and means operably associated with both the locating means and cutting means at the work station for inserting a plug cut by the cutting means into the recess located by the locating means.

12. Plug inserting mechanism as set forth in claim 11 wherein the means for gripping the cylindrical member and moving it between stations comprises a pair of pivotally mounted jaws, cam follower actuating arms secured to the jaws, actuating cams engageable with the actuating arms, and motor means connected to the actuating cams.

13. Plug inserting mechanism comprising means for gripping an angularly randomly positioned cylindrical member and moving the cylindrical member between a receiving station, a work station and an unloading station, means at the receiving station operably associated with the gripping and moving means for loading the cylindrical member into the gripping and moving means, means adjacent the work station for locating an existing radially extending recess in the randomly positioned cylindrical member, means also adjacent the work station for cutting a plug for insertion in the recess in the cylindrical member, and means operably associated with both the locating means and cutting means at the work station for inserting a plug cut by the cutting means into the recess located by the locating means.

14. Plug inserting mechanism as set forth in claim 13 wherein the means for loading the cylindrical member into the gripping and moving means includes an inclined chute supporting a plurality of the cylindrical members for gravity feeding thereof, a guide located adjacent the receiving station into which individual cylindrical members are fed from the inclined chute, plunger means for moving the individual cylindrical members from the guide into the gripping and moving means, and motor means for actuating the plunger when the gripping and moving means are at the loading station.

15. Plug inserting mechanism comprising means for gripping an angularly randomly positioned cylindrical member and moving the cylindrical member between a receiving station, a work station and an unloading station, means adjacent the work station for locating an existing radially extending recess in the randomly positioned cylindrical member, means also adjacent the work station for cutting a plug for insertion in the recess in the cylindrical member, means operably associated with both the locating means and cutting means at the work station for inserting a plug cut by the cutting means into the recess located by the locating means, and means operably associated with the gripping and moving means at the unloading station for removing the cylindrical member therefrom.

16. Plug inserting mechanism as set forth in claim 15 wherein the means for removing the cylindrical member from the gripping and moving means includes a source of air under pressure, means at the unloading station for directing the air under pressure at a cylindrical member held in the gripping and moving means at the unloading station, and a chute operably associated with the gripping and moving means at the unloading station for receiving the cylindrical members removed from the gripping and moving means by the air under pressure.

17. Plug inserting mechanism comprising means for gripping an angularly randomly positioned cylindrical member and moving the cylindrical member between a receiving station, a work station and an unloading station, means adjacent the work station for locating an existing radially extending recess in the randomly positioned cylindrical member, means also adjacent the work station for cutting a plug for insertion in the recess in the cylindrical member, means operably associated with both the locating means and cutting means at the work station for inserting a plug cut by the cutting means into the recess located by the locating means, means operably associated with the gripping and moving means at the unloading station for removing the cylindrical member therefrom, and means operably associated with the means for locating the recess for sorting cylindrical members not having recesses therein from those having recesses therein including a chute for receiving cylindrical members removed from the gripping and moving means having an offset therein, a

1 1 door positioned in the chute at the offset, solenoid actuating means for said door, and switch means operable when no recess is found by the means for locating a recess to energize said solenoid.

18. A method of inserting a plug into a recess in a cylindrical member comprising loosely gripping the cylindrical member, positioning a pin biased toward the cylindrical member in engagement with the cylindrical member, rotating the cylindrical member until the pin moves into the recess, firmly gripping the cylindrical member with the pin within the recess, withdrawing the pin from the recess, positioning material from which a plug is to be cut between the pin and recess, cutting a plug from the material, and moving the pin toward the recess to insert the plug therein.

19. The method of inserting a plug into a recess set forth in claim 18 wherein the pin is moved toward the recess to insert the plug therein during the cutting of the plug from the material.

20. A method of inserting a plug into a recess in a cylindrical member comprising placing the cylindrical member in gripping means at a work receiving station, moving the cylindrical member to a work station, moving the gripping means relatively to each other at the work station to loosely grip the cylindrical member thereat, positioning a pin biased toward the cylindrical member in engagement with the cylindrical member at the work station, rotating the cylindrical member until the pin moves into the recess, firmly gripping the cylindrical member with the pin within the recess, withdrawing the pin from the recess, positioning material from which a plug is to be out between the pin and recess, cutting a plug from the material, moving the pin toward the recess to insert the plug therein, indexing the gripping means to an unloading station, and removing the cylindrical member from the gripping means at the unloading station.

21. A method of inserting a plug in a recess in a cylindrical member comprising positioning a pin biased toward the cylindrical member in engagement with the cylindrical member, rotating the cylindrical member until the pin moves into the recess, firmly gripping the cylindrical member with the pin within the recess, withdrawing the pin from the recess, positioning plug material between the pin and recess and moving the pin toward the recess to insert a portion of the plug material in the recess.

22. A method of sorting cylindrical members in accordance with the presence or absence of a recess therein comprising positioning a pin biased toward the cylindrical member in engagement with the cylindrical member, rotating the cylindrical member to permit the pin to move into a recess located thereby, sensing movement of the pin into a recess and sorting said cylindrical members in accordance with the sensed movement of the pin.

23. A method of locating a recess in a cylindrical member and inserting a plug in the located recess comprising loosely gripping the cylindrical member, positioning a pin biased toward the cylindrical member in engagement with the cylindrical member, rotating the cylindrical member for a period to permit movement of the pin into the recess located thereby, firmly gipping the cylindrical member at the end of the period of rotation thereof, moving the pin away from the gripped cylindrical member, positioning material from which a plug is to be out between the pin and recess only if a recess has been located by the pin during said period, and subsequently moving the pin toward the recess to insert a plug therein if the plug material is positioned between the pin and a located recess.

24. Plug inserting mechanism comprising means for gripping a cylindrical member and moving the cylindrical member between a receiving station, a work station and an unloading station, means adjacent the work station for locating an existing recess in the cylindrical member, means also adjacent the work station for cutting a plug for insertion in the recess in the cylindrical member,

means operabiy associated with both the locating means and cutting means at the work station for inserting a plug cut by the cutting means into the recess located by the locating means, means operably associated with the gripping and moving means at the unloading station for removing the cylindrical member therefrom, and means operably associated with the means for locating the recess for sorting cylindrical members not having recesses therein from those having recesses therein.

25. Plug inserting mechanism comprising means for locating a recess in a cylindrical member, including a pin biased into engagement with the cylindrical member operable to extend into said recess on rotation of the cylindrical member and means for rotating the cylindrical memher, and means operably associated with the locating means for'inserting a plug separate from said pin into the recess after it has been located by the locating means.

26. Means for locating a recess in a cylindrical member including a pin biased toward the cylindrical member operable to extend into a located recess on rotation of the cylindrical member, means for loosely gripping and rotating the cylindrical member, means for sensing the extension of the pin into a located recess and means responsive to the means for sensing the extension of the pin into a located recess for sorting the cylindrical members in accordance with whether or not the pin extends into a recess on rotation of the cylindrical member.

27. Plug inserting mechanism comprising means for locating an existing recess in a cylindrical member including a pin, means biasing said pin into engagement with said cylindrical member and means for rotating the cylindrical member, means for cutting a plug for insertion in the recess in the cylindrical member, and means operably associated with both the locating means and cutting means for inserting a plug cut by the cutting means into the recess located by the locating means.

23. Plug inserting mechanism comprising means for locating an existing recess in a cylindrical member including a pin, means for biasing the pin into engagement with the cylindrical member and means for rotating the cylindrical member, means for cutting a plug for insertion in the recess in the cylindrical member, means for indexing a strip of plug material past the plug cutting means and means operably associated with both the locating means and cutting means for inserting a plug cut by the cutting means from the strip of plug material into the recess located by the locating means.

29. Plug inserting mechanism comprising means for gripping an angularly randomly positioned cylindrical member and moving the cylindrical member between a receiving station, a Work station and an unloading station, means adjacent the work station for locating an existing radially extending recess in the randomly positioned cylindrical member, means also adjacent the work station for cutting a plug for insertion in the recess in the cylindrical member, means operably associated with both the locatmg means and cutting means at the work station for inerting a plug cut by the cutting means into the recess located by the locating means, means operably associated with the gripping and moving means at the unloading station for removing the cylindrical member therefrom, and means operably associated with the means for locatmg the recess for sorting cylindrical members not having recesses therein from those having recesses therein.

30. A method of inserting a plug in a recess in a cylindrical member comprising positioning a pin biased toward the cylindrical member in engagement with the cylindrical member, rotating the cylindrical member until the pin moves into the recess, firmly gripping the cylindrical member wlth the pin within the recess, withdrawing the pin from the recess and subsequently inserting a plug within the located recess.

31. A method of sorting cylindrical members in accordance with the presence or absence of a recess therein comprising biasing a pin toward a cylindrical member into engagement with the cylindrical member, rotating 1 the cylindrical member to permit the pin to move into a recess in the cylindrical member and sorting the cylindrical member in response to movement of the pin into the recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 157,348 Pforzhcimem' Dec. 1, 1874 14 Raiche Mar. 12, 1935 Swanstrom Oct. 15, 1940 Nichols Aug. 6, 194 6 MacBlane et a1 June 30, 1953 Burdick Dec. 22, 1953 Stechmann Nov. 8, 1955 Van Nest et a1 June 18, 1957 Tesdal Feb. 9, 1960 

1. PLUG INSERTING MECHANISM COMPRISING MEANS FOR LOCATING AN EXISTING RADIALLY EXTENDING RECESS IN AN ANGULARLY RANDOMLY POSITIONED CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, MEANS FOR CUTTING A PLUG FOR INSERTION IN THE RECESS IN THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, AND MEANS OPERABLY ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH THE LOCATING MEANS AND CUTTING MEANS FOR INSERTING A PLUG CUT BY THE CUTTING MEANS INTO THE RECESS LOCATED BY THE LOCATING MEANS. 